So long Yamaha!

[DoozleD]

...I just wanted to say I took the boat out today with the new engine..(20 ma).115 Evinrude e-Tech and I must say its allot better than the Yamaha 115 4-stroke I had!..its set up the same, and has the same pitch prop, the mid range torque/cruiseing is WAY BETTER than Yamaha was! I love it..pluss its lighter!...just saying haven driven them all on all kinds of boats this is a good rig!

[DonV]

Here comes Denny with a few words about the eTecs...........

I'm with ya on the eTecs, if I had the money I would have a 250 HO G2 on the back of my old clunker SeaCraft in a minute. Wait if I had that kind of money it would be the 300 hp! Good luck!!

[Bushwacker]

Originally Posted by DoozleD

...I just wanted to say I took the boat out today with the new engine..(20 ma).115 Evinrude e-Tech and I must say its allot better than the Yamaha 115 4-stroke I had!..its set up the same, and has the same pitch prop, the mid range torque/cruiseing is WAY BETTER than Yamaha was! I love it..pluss its lighter!...just saying haven driven them all on all kinds of boats this is a good rig!

Glad to hear you like it! You're the 3rd guy I've heard say the same thing after replacing a 4S Yamaha with an E-TEC! After running my boat for 31 years with a 300 lb motor, I've been telling folks for a long time that "lighter is better" on the 20' hull! I thought you had decided on the 150 V-6, but it's definitely way more power than you need on a 20! Looking forward to hearing some performance numbers and prop size/WOT rpm, etc.! Denny

[DoozleD]

5500 at wot=37 kts...likes to run around 3600, to 4000rpm's for cruising, its hard to get it to stay at 3500rpm?..it wants to go to 4000,or 3200?...might screw around with props..4000=about 22 to 25 kts?..I think..cant remember

[Terry England]

Originally Posted by DoozleD

5500 at wot=37 kts...likes to run around 3600, to 4000rpm's for cruising, its hard to get it to stay at 3500rpm?..it wants to go to 4000,or 3200?...might screw around with props..4000=about 22 to 25 kts?..I think..cant remember

In my humble opinion -
If you are considering a light weight, lower HP motor for your 20 Seacraft in the 90-115 range - The E-tec's seem have a slightly different torque profile.
The 90's have a very flat trajectory across the rpm range. They pull pretty steady from about 3200 up to WOT. They are happy to "tractor" along at 3400 all day.
The 115's have a "Crown" in the torque trajectory where they want to surge at about 4,150 due to porting and the adjustable expansion chamber. I'm not sure if they are "weak" below the 4000 mark or if the "surge" above that point just makes them feel a little slugish below 4000. They love 4150 and "spooled up" they yodel!
My 90 is a 20" 2-1 gear and my 115's are a 25" 2.25-1 gear so there may be some slight difference between relative gearing and props. My 115 preformance stats are very similar to yours Doozle, but I can only get to 34 MPH and not Knots with that "Toad" 25 Bert.
As you say, you might be able to reduce the "surge" with some prop adjustment. I have a Powertec 13-3/4 X 14 on the 90 and Merc Inertia's 14 X 14 with BRP hubs on the 115's. Both good crusing props. Gillie approved them.
If your boat is outside, store it with the engine in the down postion. The only problem they seem to have other than the typical contaminated fuel is rain water leaking in the cowling in the up position and getting in the EEM unit. I think they added an additional deflector shield on the new motors along with grease fittings for the expansion chamber so they can give it a squirt at your 3 year service interval. Get out there and use that boat man, I'll be snowing again up there in another 3 weeks wouldn't it?

[DoozleD]

Terry, you are so right about the diff in the torque curve, we have a few boats with 90's on them and they doent seam to have a "sweet" spot...I know about the cover deal, they have a service bulletin about it..(add silicone) hahahaha!! ...thanks for the prop info

[Capt Terry]

Saw the dialogue about ETEC and torque curves. A longer story I’ll keep short. I have a 2012 ETEC 150 HO on a ’76 20’ Seafari originally purchased for trolling and skiing, but currently used only for watersports in SC. The ETEC is quick starting and quiet. However, due to its steep torque curve (between 2500 – 3500 rpm if I recall correctly) the speed instability was terrible particularly wakeboarding where my desired 17.5 mph might vary from 14 – 26 driving both the driver and rider nuts! Slalom and barefooting speeds were easier to hold steady. Engine height adjustments and prop changes did little to help wakeboarding.

Using a high five prop and a PerfectPass speed control I can now wakeboard at about 18 +/- 0.6 mph and pull an aggressive 220 lb wakeboarder at 22 +/-1.0 mph. PerfectPass is designed & manufactured for high end and competition ski boats; but, they do not make an outboard model. I engineered a method to mount and use PerfectPass on the ETEC which is a vast improvement over initial operation!

Originally Posted by DoozleD

Terry, you are so right about the diff in the torque curve, we have a few boats with 90's on them and they doent seam to have a "sweet" spot...I know about the cover deal, they have a service bulletin about it..(add silicone) hahahaha!! ...thanks for the prop info

[seacraftks]

Nice engine all around I really like e tec. Have fun with your boat, and the best part you can talk to each other